The New Jersey Nets organization has named Jeff Gewirtz, a nationally respected sports lawyer, as its new Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Gewirtz was previously General Counsel and Chief Legal and Government Affairs Officer for the United States Olympic Committee.
In his new position with the Nets, Gewirtz’ will be responsible for executing all agreements as they relate to potential joining venture alliances, licensing, broadcasting, marketing sponsorships and other transactions, as well as helping with all legal aspects of the team’s move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the 2009-10 NBA season. Gewirtz will also be responsible for interpreting all appropriate federal, state, and local legislations as well as NBA compliance and legal requirements. Gewirtz will also be responsible for all legal aspects of operating the franchise.
“Jeff has exceptional experience and knowledge in the legal areas of professional sports and marketing and will be a crucial part of our senior executive team,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of The Nets. “He has shown the ability to thrive in a competitive environment and will be instrumental in our transition to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Our ownership is committed to bring in the best of the best to this organization.”
At the USOC, Gewirtz was responsible for all agency legal matters, as well as its government relations activities with Congress and Federal government agencies.
“We are grateful for the work by Jeff; he has been a tremendous asset to the USOC,” said Jim Scherr, USOC Chief Executive Officer. “He will be missed and we wish him well in his new position.”
Gewirtz will be replaced by Rana Dershowitz, who has been named Interim General Counsel for the USOC, while maintaining her role as Managing Director of Legal and Government Affairs.
Prior to taking on his duties at the USOC, Gewirtz was Counsel – sports and entertainment transactions, marketing and media in the Coca-Cola Company’s Corporate Legal Division. While there, his primary responsibilities included the provision of legal counsel on and negotiation of the Company’s North American sports marketing and media transactions with professional sports leagues, teams, stadiums, arenas, and professional athletes. While working in that role in the Coca-Cola Company’s Corporate Legal Division, Gewirtz served as lead counsel for Coca-Cola North America’s two largest sports industry transactions: its over $500 million sponsorship and media alliance with CBS Sports, designating Coca-Cola as an NCAA Corporate Champion and granting Coca-Cola marketing rights across all 88 NCAA Championships; and its 28-year naming rights transaction with the Houston Astros for the naming of Minute Maid Park.
Before joining the Coca-Cola team, Gewirtz was Director of Legal Affairs for IOC Marketing and Television Services SA, based in Lausanne, Switzerland. While there he was a primary negotiator of global Olympic sponsorship alliances for the International Olympic Committee. Prior to that, Gewirtz was General Counsel for the LPGA Tour. He has also worked in-house in the legal and business affairs department of the WTA Tour.
A native of Baldwin Harbor, NY, Gewirtz is a graduate of Tufts University and received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School, where he was the recipient of a three-year merit scholarship.
Gewirtz is currently Chair of the Sports Division within the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries, and he sits on the Board of Directors of both the National Sports Law Institute and the Sports Lawyers Association. He is also on the Advisory Board of the Penn State Institute for Sports Law, Policy, and Research.
